The Arkansas Highway Department was recently considering putting a bypass around Paragould for Highway 412. There is a chance this bypass is going to go right through the middle of the CRC campus. I really hope this doesn't happen. CRC is a very special place to a lot of people. If you are familiar with this I would love to hear what you think about it. I believe a decision was going to be made today concerning this. If anybody could share any updates on this topic it would be greatly appreciated.

Being on the receiving end of a bypass I can sympathise with you in this matter. In 1996 the ground which I farm was split by a bypass. Lifelong memories are now covered by 4 lanes of traffic which is diverted around Hoxie.

Traffic congestion is the reasons for these bypasses. From a transportation point of view the bypass makes a lot of sense, however it doesn't do too much for the trees my dad and I planted, the place where I was raised as a kid, and being able to look out my back door and see the my farm. However, some improvements were made in the process.

Two new wells were bought and paid for by the highway department as well as new grain bins and moving others. While I would have much rather things have been left as was, some major improvements were made.

If the bypass does go through the campus of CRC major improvements could also be made. Not only does the Highway Department pay market value for the land and buildings, they also pay damages. In other words CRC could have an new campus that would be the envy of any small college and not owe a dime.

I apologize to the forum administrators. If I would have realized this topic belonged here I would have put it here. I just assumed this didn't have anything to do with sports.

I sympathise with you on your farm. I understand what a "family" farms
means........but for as CRC (I was there a long time ago).....in some
ways this is hard to accept, but yet I can see where CRC will get some
things out of it that they would never be able to get other wise. I say
keep the memories.....let them have the ground and run to the bank.

I attended the community input meeting, a few weeks back, and the highway dept. said then that the lines weren't etched in stone that was just a general idea of which way the by-pass might run. But the southern most route look like it might be the best for Paragould & Greene county, and they knew there would be adjustments to any of the propose routes.

Is the southern most route you refer to the one that will run right through CRC's campus? I am just curious.

I do understand that the needs of the communitiy may not be what is best for CRC but doing the best thing for Paragould and Greene County is one of the most important issues here.

I am an old time legacy at CRC as a fraternity would call me. I had a lot of family through there way back in the day. There is frustration that comes with the idea, but there have been improvements that needed to be made to that place LONG before this issue ever came up. If this gets those issues done, then run that baby right on through. If it doesn't get the admin to do something to improve the place, then don't even think about clearing any land. I myself would love to go back someday and see a little different scenery around that place to be honest.

Bearbait, how do you keep that positive attitude going at all times?

About 6 years ago my son's cal Ripkin baseball team practiced at CRC, at the time there was not even an all weather road access to the field and it was very run down. It was sort of heartbreaking to see what could have been a very beautiful baseball facility in a state of ruin. I don't know if they have done anything with it since. The first year they started baseball back up they were playing at the city fields.

Coach Scott put so much effort into trying to make it a better field. He pretty much lived out there. I have not seen the field in many years but I would say it has been slightly improved since you had seen it six years ago. That being said I don't know if anything has been done to it over the past couple years.

not sure how to answer that really. is that sarcasm? if so, then I just make sure i pass gas at least once during my morning pee.

if it was an honest question, then I would like to contribute such an attitude from trying to have the one talked about in Phil 2:5